Dilutometer



July 12, 1927.

-c. LARSON ET AL DILUTOMETER Filed April A) 1921 W4 67/7920rd La Car/ L. f

Pateiited J ly 12,1927.

- UNITED STATES CLIFFORD LARSON AND CARL L. KNOPF, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DILUTOMETEB.

Application filed April 4, 921; ser1a1m.45s,a4o.

This invention relates to-improvements in dil-utometers and refers more particularly to a device for ascertaining the lubricating qualities of oils or specifically their viscosity which is the most pertinent element in connection' with the use of such oils as lubricants.

Among the salient objects of the invention are to provide'a device which resembles a viscosimeterin that the fluidity of the oil is tested by the rate of flow of an article or substance in the oil and differing from the viscosimeter in that the device combines'two tubes by means of whichthe relative fluidity of two oils or liquids may be definitely ascertained by comparison.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the device when. connected with the crank case of an internal combustion engine.

Fig. 2 is a separate device used when a, portion of the oil is removed from the crank case.

Referringin detail to the drawings, a double transparent tube is shown at 1,;3omprismg an upper tube 1 and-a lower tube 1", the upper tube being connected to the crank case through apipe 2. The tubes are pivoted as shown at 3 so-that they may be raised or lowered and positioned on an incline at any angle desired in order that the spherical members 4 will flow toward or away from the pivot point according to the inclination of the tubes.- The lower tube 1 is filled with a test oil of predetermined viscosity which is preferably of a quality which closely approximates the character of lubricating oil, whose lubricating properties are substantially exhausted. The oil from the crank case ma be drawn into the upper tube by means 0 the pump 5. By inclining the tubes now at an angle, the spherical members 4 will flow toward the opposite end of the tubes and the comparative rate of flow of Y the separate members in the individual tubes will designate the viscosity or the character of the lubricant in each, that is, if the oil drawn from the crank case is of substantially the same viscosity or has reached the viscosity of that in the master tubeor check tube 1", the spherical members will flow at the same speed and it will thereby be obvious to themotorist that the crank case oil has practically exhausted its'lubricating properties and should be changed. If, however, the o dra n from the c ank ca e ca ses the member 4 to flow slower than the member in the master tube, it is obvious that the lubricant is still efiective and retains its lubrieating property as it has been ascertained from tests that the viscosity ofthe oil is the governing feature in fixing the quality of thelubricant. It is understood, of course,-

that a clean oil may be used in the tube 1 in making the comparison and the relative rate of fiow still remaining the test for the quality of the lubricant, it only being necessary for the motorist or operator to be cogni zant of the character of the oil used for comparison in the master tube.

The separate apparatus as shown at 6 in Fig. 2 is identical in construction except that it-is not fixedly pivoted to the motor as is the construction in Fig. 1. The latter disclosure is a separate hand device used in drawing off a specimen of oil from the crank case and introducing it to the upper tube by means of the funnel 7. The average motorist, garageman or mechanic realizes that as the motor oil is used it becomes diluted by heavy ends of the fuel and that it is necessary to drain the crank case of his motor at stated intervals in order'to maintain sufficient body to his lubricant and that the piston seal inthe cylinders remains constant. At the present time, thdre is no definite check,'however, on the lubricating properties of the oil as it is used in the engine and reliance vis put upon changing the oil at the exact period when the oil has exhausted its lubricating properties rather than relying on the rule of thumb method heretofore in common use. know this maximum dilution point in order to protect the engine from wear, which be Also it is well to comes excessive beyond a certain point, when a lubricant is constantly reused. The apparatus ex lained. determines this dilution of, the lubr1cant and although it is particularly described in connection with crank case oil it may be employed with any type of lubricant to ascertain its lubricating quality. The apparatus is based on the' body or lubricatin value of the oil whereas methods hereto ore have taken into account only the change in the gravity of the v oil. This devicewill not only overcome the waste due to throwing away lubricants which are still-suitable for use but will also warn the user against allowing his crank case oil or other type of lubricant to become so diluted that the bearings will be burned out and the cylinders scored.

Either a spherical member or other suitably shaped fioW member as shown at i in the drawings may be used in the tubes or relative viscosities may be denoted by maintaining a bubble of air in the respective tubes. of air bubbles to denote viscosity is somewhat unsatisfactory in that the air bubbles are not as sensitive to flow as are the heavy spherical members shown in the drawings. The construction is adaptable to various modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with parallel tubes, one of said tubes being sealed and having a liquid of known fluidity and viscosity therein, means for introducing an extraneous liquid to the other tube or tubes and movable means positioned in the respective tubes of greater density than the liquids therein and operable with the inclination of the tubes to any angle to accurately register their The lattermethod of using the flow comparative fluidity, regardless of speed of inclination.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with parallel tubes, one of said tubes being sealed and having a liquid of a known fluidity and viscosity therein, an inlet for introducing an extraneous liquid to the other tube or tubes and movable metallic elements of greater density than the liquids positioned in the tubes and registering the relative fiuidities of the oil regardless of the speed of inclination by the relative position of each, metallic element in each tube, caused by inclining the tubes at an angle.

3. A device for ascertaining the relative viscosity of oils, comprising parallel containers for the oils to be compared, one of said containers being sealed and containing a liquid of known viscosity, an inlet to the other container for introducing the oils to be compared, like movable means in each container of greater density than the oil being treat-ed, adapted to register the comparaiivefluidity by the position of the movable means after the inclination of the containers at any angle, regardless of the speed of inclination.

onirronn M. LARSON. CARL L. KNOPF, 

